Have you ever thought about.....
 

..... quitting?

I'm just wondering. I almost did, after Horatio Nelson. Didn't care anymore, sobbed for days, wondered how people were going about their lives happy. I wanted to scream DON'T YOU PEOPLE REALIZE WHAT HAPPENED?

I know some heard the Second of June news and were devastated. Lost in the Fog, Saint Liam, Electrocutionist, too many lately. We all take each death a certain way but some are harder for each of us.

I have a friend who quit following the sport after Warrsan died. She's since come back, just like I did, but it took a while.....

So tell me..... have you ever quit and by that I mean temporarily? Have you ever felt like you can't take much more of it?

Just wondering. So many lately..... a hard sport to love at times.

MMSC: you hit the nail on the head! Back in '85, when a spate of Lucas horses and Hibbards' horses were dropping, it got too much for me. Horses like Double Smoke and some very quick ones related to Favorite Trick, funny, I guess I've blocked out some of my favorites, but your point is well taken!

For me it was when Go For Wand broke down in the Breeder's Cup Distaff. Watching her struggle to her feet, stumble a couple more steps and go down again, did me in completely. Then there was the owner with Go For Wand on the track, the filly's head in her lap. I think I shouted I HATE THIS!! before bursting into tears.

It didn't help that another horse (Northern Wolf?) had suffered a heart attack a couple races earlier, in the middle of the Sprint, which was going to be his last race. There was some sort of nice story about that horse with regard to the connections, but I don't remember it.

I seriously considered giving up the sport that day, but of course couldn't do it.

--Dunbar

I saw a horse break down at Saratoga about 6 summers ago, named
Best Friend Stro. He had a very clear lead in midstretch when the accident occured. It was horrific to watch and equally appalling to see people who bet the horse that eventually won the race jump up and down and cheer when Best Friend Stro broke down. One moron (who I got in a "slight" altercation with after the race) even had the audacity to laugh about it and say he could care less, so long as his horse had won. He did after all have $10 to win on it. Okay it was more than a slight altercation, he was white trash and you all know what needs to happen to trash.

After Swale died I stayed away for several months; I was heartbroken. This year has tested us mightily.

Best Friend Stro was put down immediately after the race on the track and to this day I will never forget the light blue curtain that they put up to hide the euthanization. It was very sad for anybody who cares more about the animals than the betting.

Yes, I quit after Ruffian for a long time, I was only 12 but horse racing was my passion, I even walked to the corner liquor store to buy Turf Monthly. I was just devastated by her death, watched it on TV, she was my favorite horse at that time, even over Secretariat. I of course came back again and than took another hiatus after watching Go for Wand go down, I just completely became focused in my own horses, and than of course came back again, this time for Cigar.... and that was a treat.

The Cigar/Skip Away years were the best years I have ever remembered. Granted I am in my mid 30's and missed horses like Secretariat. But the last few years in horse racing kind of leave a lot to be desired in terms of comparing to recent history.

In a way I'm lucky because I'm relatively new to racing..... I remember the first horse I ever heard about being put down was Boomzeeboom. I was so shocked, so niave.... I thought this has to be something that hardly ever happens. I had never heard of Ruffian, of Go For Wand, of any of them.

I was at the track the day Snack died. I still have my win ticket. "Where IS he?" I asked when they came across the wire. Looked over and saw him.....

I can still remember seeing the ambulence for the first time and asking my friend, Happy T, if he was gonna be alright... looking at her expression and knowing, as it slowly drove away, no one would ever see him again.

When Lottery Pick won his last race I'll never forget watching the jockey take the saddlecloth to the winner's circle. My eyes went back and forth, from the poor horse to the joyous connections, and it was moments before they realized their horse, their winner, had been hurt. He didn't make it.

Horatio though..... there are a few who come close but that pain will never leave me.

So to anyone who had their heart ripped out today... I'm truly sorry.

I really haven't thought of quitting.
I certainly miss the great, good, and even just the "hard knockers". The thrills they gave are always in my memory, all I need do is close my eyes to see them again...driving to the line.
To me, there is no sport that has higher "highs" and lower "lows".
I'm guessing that's why I love it so.

no, never thought about quitting. it's part of it all, kind of mirrors life. good times, bad times, triumphs, tragedies....i cuss, get a bit disgusted. i'm a positive person for the most part, i tell myself it could ALWAYS be worse.
now, go for wand was tough. damn tough. timely writer was another. swale--man, that was something as well. but you can't focus on those moments, not on the bad....

Several times, but only seriously after Tempera died. She was a very, very special filly to me and I was devastated by her death. I'm still upset about it to this day.

I was sitting here thinking the same thing that most of you guys have posted. I love watching this game and there is no bigger thrill to me then to have a horse whether i bet on it or not to go head to head in the stretch and its just a friggin dog fight to the wire but sometimes those highs are tough to think about when days like this happen SofJ was a horse that ran in Fla when i ws there so i will never forget the stretch duel with him and read the footnotes but DAMN THIS YEAR HAS SUCKED.

yes i've
almost quit.
this is one
bad year.
horatio and
warrsan
hit me very
hard
and so did
mubtaker.

I have never thought about quitting the game even experiencing the passing of my own horses. This sport is unlike any other sport out there. I think that if horses such as Horatio Nelson, Second Of June, Fog etc etc could speak they would tell us to keep supporting the sport, keep us in your minds and remember us but please support this great sport. We should never ever quit this sport no matter how down we get.

That is the way I feel eurobounce. The track is a battlefield and the horses are warriors. We need to love them and support them when they are here, and remember them when they pass...They would want it that way. I'll never quit.